Automatic train stop or signal device.



0. A. ROSS.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP 0H SIGNAL DEVICE.

1,147,444. APPLICATION FILED JUNE lB, I908. Patented 20,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- COLUMBIA PLANDORAPH Co..wAsHlNGTuN. D. c.

0. A.-ROSS.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP 0R SIGNAL DEVICE.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18. 190B.

1,147,444. Patented July 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 kw Mm O.

h wb COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,\VASHINGTDN. D. c.

'LMWAME.

ran sratrns ra'rnnr cream oscAn A. ROSS, or en caeo, LnInois, less ei on or one- LF TO 0. VALLETTE KASSON, or en caeo, ILLINOIS.

AUroMATIc TRAIN s'ror on sIenAL nnvicni Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed crane 18, 1908'. Serial No. 439,191,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Oscar: A. Boss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train Stop or Signal Devices, of which the followl system which might render it necessary or desirable to stop or to proceed slowly. In the preferred construct on the device 1s adapted to automatically stop or slow the train, the person in charge being unable to control the operation of the system.

The objects of my invention are to pro vide a simple, satisfactoryyand efficient device of the kind described for the purposes set forth, arranged to indicate its own condition as well as the condition of the adjacent track, so that there can be no relying upon a defective or inoperative system.

The preferred construction has among its objects to take the control of the device or system completely out of the handsof the engineer or person in charge.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and de scribed and more particularly pointed out block B is clear, is through relay 13 conin the claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view of the preferred form of track circuit, and Fig. 2, is a diagrammatic View of thepreferred form of the train or signal circuit controlled by said track circuit.

Referring to the drawings in which my system or device is shown as applied to a double track system, the track is divided into any number of blocks of any desired length, not necessarily of the same length. Each block is controlled by another block, in the drawings complete blocks 13 and C and portions 'of blocks A and D are shown, 7

each block being controlled by the preceding adjacent block to accomplish results desired as more fully explained hereafter. By a preceding block I mean a block ahead of the train to .be stopped or signaled. I Each block is preferably divided into a plurality of sections insulated from each other, the rails of block C, for example, being indicated by C C C 0*, C and C and the insulation by the numeral 1. The various blocks are also insulated from each other as at 11, etc. In the preferred arrangement shown rails C and G? form a section, rails C and C* a section, and rails C and C a third section. These sections are electrically connected together to form what may be termeda track circuit, and means are provided to exclude or isolate and bridge a certain section from the circuit, as shown, rails C3, C under certain conditions. Normally the circuit includes all of the rails of the block, the means for excluding a section from the circuit or isolating the same is preferably adapted to bridge the isolated section so that the circuit is not broken.

The excluding of the section to be isolated in a block is preferably controlled by the track circuit in another block, as shown in the preceding block. Assuming block B to be clear, that is without 'a train upon it and in normal operatiye condition,then the relay 18 is. energized from a battery 2 or its equivalent in block B,so that relay armature 13 draws the movable or armature contact members 20, 6, 9 and 17 (in block G) into the positions indicated, in contact with what maybe termed the front contact members, this being the front contact position. The circuit then through block C, which is shown clear .and is in a condition indicating that circuit through all the rails of the block.

In this manner relay l8 controlling a track section in block D is energized and the movable relay contact members in block B are held in front contact position substantially as shown in block C indicating that block C is clear as will be more fully explained hereafter.

It should be noted that the current leaving the battery starts down on one side of the track and after passing through the relay armature members passes into the section rail on the opposite side of the track, then returns Patented July 20,1915.

to the original side of the track circuit, passes through the relay in the circuit, thence to the opposite side of the track, then to a section on the opposite side, thence back again and to the battery. It is thus seen that the track rails in the sections are of opposite polarity to the adjacent rails, as indicated by the plus and minus signs so that should any insulating joint break down between the sections it will short-circuit the battery of that particular block thereby demagnetizing the relay controlled by that block or circuit. It is also preferable to arrange the circuit in the next block so that the adjacent tracks of the blocks are of opposite polarity as indicated in the drawings by the plus and minus signs.

If there is no train on block A or any other preceding block controlling block B, the movable or armature relay contact members controlling block B will also be in a position similar to those shown in block C. Assuming, however, a train T on block A or the block controlling the relay 13 or its equivalent, then the battery 2 (not shown) will be short-circuited so that the relay 13 is deenergized. The armature contact members 20, 6, 9, 17, in block B will therefore contact with what may be termed the back contact points. The circuit then from battery 2 of block B will be through the conductors, rails, and armature contact members as follows: 23, B 22, 27, 20, 26, 15, B, 14, relay 13 ,12, B 11, 25, e, 24, 4, B and 3, to the battery again. It is thus seen that a section of the track represented by the rails B and B will be excluded from the track circuit and isolated, as all conductors from these isolated rails lead to open contacts, the isolated section being bridged. In this case there being no train in block B section rails C and C of block C will indicate that block B is clear since the circuit has not been broken or short-circuited in block B. As the train T passes beyond and out block A, the relay l3 will again be energized and the movable contact members returned to normal or front contact positions (as shown in block C), so that rails B and B comprising the section are again a part of the track circuit indicating that block A is clear.

As shown, each block is controlled by the preceding block but it is obvious that it may be controlled by the second block ahead or. by any other preceding block as desired.

It should be noted that should there be a train on a block or a break or short-circuiting of the track circuit of the block, or a breaking down of the insulation in the block, the relay controlled by the circuit of that block will be deenergized thus isolating a track section controlled by that relay in another block with the results as hereafter mentioned.

The track circuit so described may be used to control or operate any signal device or control automatically the operation of the train. That is the track circuit may be used with other control or signal devices other than those shown in the drawings and described hereafter. The preferred construction is to have a normally closed circuit which may be termed the controlled or train circuit, on the train, which is controlled by the track circuit by preferably including or excluding a section from the track as described, so that when the train passes over the rails of the section that is excluded temporarily from the track circuit, the train circuit or signal device will be controlled thereby. The preferred construction comprises means for substantially automatically stopping the train and also if desired giving certain signals.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, in which the preferred train circuit is shown, 44 is an electropneumatic valve preferably controlling the air-brakes of the train, or the throttle if that is desired, so that when the valve is operated the train will be substantially automatically stopped. The preferred form of valve is adapted to operate when the circuit controlling the same is opened or not passing through the valve, it being norm ally inoperative when the train circuit is closed and through the valve. Details of the preferred form of electropneumatic valve are omitted inasmuch as any suitable valve controlled by a circuit may be used. In Fig. 2,

the rails of the track sections are indicated by the reference letters C B C B etc., the same representing track sections C G etc., or B .3, etc., in Fig. 1. In this figure rails C B and C B represent the section of the track circuit to be included or exeluded from the circuit as the case may be when required. A source of energy such as a battery 88 or its equivalent is carried on the train, the numeral 28 representing a locomotive frame or a portion of the train, 29 and 30 being what may be termed contact wheels adapted to travel on the track rails. The train circuit is normally closed so that the electropneumatic valve is inoperative.

Assuming a train to be in block C of Fig. 1, as indicated by the reference letter if then there being no train on block B and the apparatus being in order, the rails C and C are a part of the track circuit and not isolated, that is the armature contact members are at the closed contact points. Re ferring now to Fig. 2, the current from the battery 38 passes along the conductors 39, 4:0, and 41 to the contact wheels 29 and 30 to the rails C B (3* B and through the conductors 7 and 19, contact members 6 and 2-9, conductors 4i and 22, to the rails C B, and C B thence through the wheels 37, through the frame 28 and conductor 42, or ground on the locomotive or train, through the contact point 43, through the electropneumatic control valve 44 out through insulated connection 45, conductor 46, through what is termed detector plate 47, conductor 48, detector plate 49, conductor 50 to the battery. The circuit is therefore normally closed so that the valve 44 is inoperative. The purpose of the detector plates 47 and 49 will be mentioned hereinafter. Should the rails C B and C B be isolated or excluded from the circuit as for example, as shown in block B, then the rails B and B would be connected to the open contact points. Assuming then that Fig. 2 represents the train a in block B, there being a train T on the block A or other block controlling relay 13 The circuit then, from the battery 38 through 39, 40, 41, and contact wheels .29 and 30, of the track rails, the frame 28, conductor 42, valve 44, etc., as before mentioned, back to the battery, is broken or opened between the rails C B 0 B and C B C 13*, so that the valve 44 immediately operates applying the train brakes or operating such other control or signal apparatus as may be desired. In this manner the train is automatically stopped or some signal given, indicating that the block controlling relay 13 is not clear, that is there is danger ahead owing to another train on the controlling block or some defeet in the system. It might be here noted and is obvious from the above that instead prevent unknown short-circuiting of the train circuit, thus preventing the operation of the electropneumatic valve when the train passes over a section of track that has been excluded from the track circuit. The detector plates 47 and 49 are insulated from the frame 28 and the contact wheels 29 and 30 insulated from the detector plates so that should the insulation break down between the contact wheels and the detector plate or detector plate and frame the circuit will be short-circuited and the valve operate. This is done to indicate the condition of the insulation between the contact wheels and the frame-work of the train, as it is obvious that if only a single insulation is used and it should break down, the current from the battery 38 would pass from the contact wheels directly to the frame 28 and through the valve and to the battery, so that the train circuit would not be interrupted by isolating the track sections as heretofore described. A train might therefore be given a clear indication while as a matter of fact it was approaching danger. Should the insulation between the contact wheels and the detector plates in the construction shown break down, the circuit would be from the battery through conductor 39 conductors 40 and 41 and into the detector plates 47 and 49 through the conductor 50 back to the battery 38 thusv short-circuiting the battery causing the valve 44 to operate. Also should the insulation break down between the detector plates and the frame then the circuit would be from the frame 28 through the conductor 50 back to the battery thus again short-circuiting the circuit and causing the valve 44 to operate. In this manner a defective condition in the train circuit is immediately indicated. It is obvious that any other suitable arrangement may be employed to give substantially the same re sults.

If desired, signals may also be arranged along the track to indicate the condition of the track circuit, a semaphore arm 34 being shown for the purpose. In this case when the rails are a part of the track circuit as for instance as shown in block C, the circuit controlling the arm 34 is from the bat tery 33 and conductors, rails, etc., 35, C 8, 9, 10, C 12, 13 14, C 15, 16, 17, 18, C 31, controlling mechanism for the signal 34 and 32 to the battery. In this case the arm 34 indicates clear. The same result is obtained in the other blocks, when clear. The path of the current and the different auxiliary circuit currents are not all in the same direction owing to the dift'erenttrack circuits being reversed to change polarity. This will benoted by referring to block B in which the direction of the current is reversed. In this case the conductors from the rails lead to open contact points, since the rails are excluded so that the auxiliary signal circuit is broken, thus causing the arm 34 to move to danger. It is obvious when a section is isolated or excluded from the track circuit then this auxiliary circuit is broken indicating the condition of the isolated section. It is obvious in the preferred construction or arrangement shown both the controlling and controlled circuits being normally closed circuits any defect in the system cannot do otherwise than indicate the condition.

It might be noted that in the claims where I specify a section, I mean to include a section consisting of the two rails as for example, C and C or as consisting of only one rail,

it being obvious that where but one contact wheel is used on one side it would only be necessary to isolate the one rail to accomplish the results described. However, this will necessitate the one contact wheel always being on one particular side of the train, which might not always be the case or be convenient. I also wish to be understood as not limiting myself to the exact form, construction and arrangement shown as it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention or that, for example, the controlled or train circuit might be modified from the preferred construction shown, and the same results be obtained by using my preferred track circuit,

IV hat I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a signal system, a length of track :nown as a block comprising a plurality of track sections, an electric circuit including the track in said block and means for excluding a track section from said circuit.

2. In a signal. system, a length of track known as a block comprising a plurality of track sections electrically insulated from each other, an electric circuit including the track comprising said block and means for excluding a track section from said circuit.

3. In a signal system, a length of track known as a block comprising a plurality of track sections, an electric circuit including the track in said block and means controlled by the circuit in another block for excluding a track section from the circuit.

4. In a signal system, a length of track known as a block comprising a plurality of track sections, an electric circuit including the track comprising said block and means for excluding a track section from said circuit upon the short circuiting of the track section in another block.

5. In a railway signal system, an electric track circuit including a portion of the track rails and means for excluding part of the said rails from the track circuit.

6. In a railway signal system, an electric circuit including a portion of the track, and means for bridging and excluding a portion of said track from the circuit.

7. In a signal system, a series of blocks, each comprising a plurality of track sections electrically insulated from each other, an electric circuit for each block including the tract: in a single block, and means controlled by the circuit in one block for excluding a track section from the track circuit of another block.

8. In a signal system, a series of blocks,

each comprising a plurality of track sections electrically insulated from each other, an electric circuit for each block including the track in the block, and means controlled by the circuit in one block for including or excluding a track section from the circuit of another block.

9. In a signal system, a series of blocks insulated from each other, each block comprising a length of track divided into a plurality of sections, an electric circuit for each block including the track in the block and means controlled by the circuit of another block for including or temporarily excluding a portion of the track from the circuit.

10. In a signal system, a series of blocks, each comprising a plurality of track sec tions, insulated from each other; an electric circuit including the track in a single block, portions of said circuit bridging the respective insulations, said portions extending through the rails of one or more track sec tions, whereby said portions are short circuited, upon failure of the insulation between said track sections.

11. In a signal system, a plurality of blocks insulated from each other, each block comprising a plurality of track sections electrically insulated from each other, an electric circuit including a portion of the track in a single block, portions of said circuit bridging the respective insulations, said portions extending through the rails of one or more track sections, whereby said por tions are short circuited, upon failure of the insulation between any of said track sections, and means for excluding a section of the track from said circuit.

12. In a signal system, a series of blocks insulated "from each other, each block comprising a length of track divided into a plurality of sections insulated from each other, an electric circuit including said track sections, portions of said circuit bridging the respective insulations, said portions extending through the rails of one or more track sections, whereby said portions are short circuited, upon failure of the insulation between said sections, and means arranged to exclude a track section from the circuit in tile block upon the opening or short circuiting' of another block circuit.

13. In a signal system, a plurality of blocks insulated from each other, each block comprising a length of track substantially divided into a plurality of sections insulated from each other, each block provided with an electric circuit including the track thereof in said circuit, each block provided with means controlled by the track circuit of another block for substantially excluding and bridging a portion of said track circuit.

1a. In a signal system, a series of blocks insulated from each other, each block comprising a length of track divided into a plurality of sections insulated from each other, and provided with an electric circuit including the track of the block in said circuit, and means for substantially excluding and bridging a section of said track circuit upon the opening or short-circuiting of the track circuit of another block.

15. In a signal system, a series of blocks insulated from each other, each block com prising a length of track divided into a plurality of sections insulated from each other, an electric circuit in each block including the track therein and means controlled by the circuit of an adjacent block for substantially excluding and bridging a portion of an electrical circuit having a part on the train and a part including a portion of the track.

17. In a signal system, a series of blocks insulated from each other, each block comprising a length of track divided into a pl'urality of sections insulated from each other, an electric circuit in each block including the track therein'and means for substantially excluding and bridging a portion of said track circuit upon the opening or short-circuit-ing of the track circuit of an adjacent block, in combination with a train controlling mechanism and a normally closed con trolling circuit therefor, having a part on the train, and a part including a portion of the track. i

18. In a signal system, a length of track known as a block comprising a plurality of track sections electrically insulated from each other, an electric circuit including the track comprising said block and means for excluding a track section from said circuit, in combination with means for indicating the condition of said track circuit, comprising train controlling mechanism and a controlling circuit therefor having a part on the train and a part including a portion of the track.

19. In a signal system, a length of track known as a block comprising a plurality of track sections an electric circuit including the track in said block and means controlled by the circuit in another block for excluding a track section from the circuit, in combination with means for indicating the condition of said track circuit comprising train con trolling mechanism and a controlling circuit therefor having a part on the train and a part including a portion of'the track.

20. In a signal system, a series of blocks, each comprising a plurality of track sections electrically insulated from each other, an electric circuit for each block including the track in a single block, and means controlled by the circuit in one block for excluding a track section from the track circuit of another block, in combination with means for indicating the condition of said track circuit comprising train controlling mechanism and a controlling circuit therefor having a part on the train and a part including a portion of the track.

21. In a signal system, a series of blocks,

each comprising a plurality of track sections electrically insulated from each other, an electric circuit for each block including the track in the block, and means controlled by the circuit in one block for including-or excluding a track section from the circuit of another block, in combination with means for indicating the condition of said track circuit comprising train controlling mecha nism and a controlling circuit therefor having a part on the train and a part including a portion of the track. I

22. In arailway signal system, an electric circuit including a portion of the track, and means for bridging and excluding a portion of said track from the circuit, in combination with means for indicating the condition of said track circuit comprising train con trolling mechanism and a controlling circuit therefor having a part on the train and a part including a portion of the track.

23. In a signal system, a series of blocks insulated from each other, each block comprising a length of track divided into a plurality of sections insulated from each other, an electric circuit including said track sections, portions of said circuit bridging the respective insulations, said portions extending through the rails of one or more track sections, whereby said portions are short circuited, upon failure of insulation between said sections, and means arranged to exclude a track section from the circuit in the block upon the opening or short-circuiting of another block circuit, in combination with means for indicating the condition of saidtrack circuit, comprising train con trolling mechanism and a controlling circuit therefor, having a part on the train and a part including a portion of the track. i

24. I11 a railway signal system, an electric circuit including a portion of the track'rails and means for excluding a part of the said rails from the track circuit, in combination with a normally closed circuit having a part on the train and a part including'a portion of the track and means exclusive of the track for indicating the short-circuiting of said train circuit. p

25. In a rail signal system, an electric circuit including a portion of the track rails and means for excluding part of the said rails from the track circuit, in combination with means for indicating the condition of said track comprising a normally closed circuit having a part on the train and a part including a portion of said track, train controlling mechanism controlled by said circuit and means exclusive of the track for indicating short-circuiting of said last mentioned circuit. v

26. In a signal system, a seriesof blocks, each comprising a plurality of track sections electrically. insulated from each other, an

1 electric circuit for each block including the track in a single block, and means controlled by the circuit in one block for excluding a track section from the track circuit oi another block, in combination With a normally closed train circuit including a portion of said track, an electric train controlling mechanism controlled by said train circuit and means exclusive of the track for indicating a short-circuiting of said train circuit.

27. In a signal system, a length of track known as a block comprising a plurality of track sections an electric circuit including the track in said block and means controlled by the circuit in another block for excluding a track section from the circuit, in combination With a normally closed circuit including 7 a portion of said track, means controlled by said circuit for substantially automatically controlling, the train upon the exclusion of a track section from said track circuit.

28. In a signal system, a length of track known as a block comprising a plurality of track sections, an electric circuit including the track in said block and means controlled by the circuit in another block for excluding a track section from the circuit, in combination With a normally closed circuit including a portion of said track, means controlled by said circuit for substantially automatically controlling the train upon the exclusion of a track section from said track circuit, and

' means exclusive ofthe track for indicating the shortcircuiting of said circuit.

29. In a si nal system, a series of blocks, each comprising a plurality of track sections electrically insulated from each other, an electric circuit for each block including the track in the block, and means controlled by the circuit in one block for including or excluding a track section from the circuit of another block, in combination With a normally closed circuit including a portion of said track, means controlled by said circuit for substantially automatically controlling the train upon the exclusion of a track section from said track circuit.

30. In a signal system, a series of blocks, each comprising a plurality of track sections electrically insulated from each other, an electric circuit for each block including the track in the block, and means controlled by the circuit in one block for including or excluding a track section from the circuit of another block, in combination with a normally closed circuit including a portion of said track, means controlled by said circuit for substantially automatically controlling the train upon the exclusion of a track section from said track circuit, and means exclusive of the track for indicating the shortcircuiting of said circuit.

31. In a signal system, a series of blocks insulated from each other, each block comprising a length of track divided into a plurality of sections insulated from each other, an electric circuit including said track sections, portions of said circuit bridging the respective insulations, said portions extending through the rails of one or more track sections, whereby said portions =are short circuited, upon failure of insulation between said sections, and means arranged to exclude a track section from the circuit in the block upon the opening or short-circuiting of another block circuit, in combination with a normally closed circuit, including a portion of said track, means controlled by said circuit for substantially automatically controlling the train upon the exclusion of a track section from said track circuit.

32. In a signal system, a series of blocks insulated from each other, each block comprising a length of track divided into a plurality of sections insulated from each other, an electric circuit including said track sections, portions of said circuit bridging the respective insulations, said portions extending through the rails of one or more track sections, whereby said portions are short circuited, upon failure of insulation between said sections, and means arranged to exclude a track section from the circuit in the block upon the opening or short-circuiting of another block circuit, in combination with a normally closed circuit, including a portion of said track, means controlled by said circuit for substantially automatically controlling the train upon the exclusion or" a track section from said track circuit, and means for indicating the short-circuiting or" said circuit to the exclusion of the track.

33. In a railway signal system, a series of track circuits forming a plurality of blocks, each block comprising parallel rails having sections insulated from each other, but electrically connected together under normal conditions, in combination with a vehicle arranged to travel on said rails, train controlling mechanism carried by said vehicle, an electric controlling circuit for said mechanism having a portion of the circuit on the vehicle and a portion including a portion of said rails, and means controlled by a preceding block for insulating a portion of the track included in said controlling circuit for said mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

OSCAR A. ROSS.

Witnesses:

ROY W. HILL, CHARLES I. Conn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

